Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center say that the protein MG53 can prevent lung cell injury.
Ohio State's Department of Surgery and Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute had first identified MG53 in 2008. Previous researches have shown that this protein repairs and protect heart and skeletal muscle cells.
"This latest study demonstrates that MG53 is expressed in the lungs and may be used to repair many types of lung injuries," Jianjie Ma, a professor and researcher in Ohio State's Department of Surgery, said in a news release.
Researchers found that control animals that lacked MG53 were vulnerable to injury when blood supply resumed after lack of oxygen. Treatment with recombinant human MG53 (rhMG53) protected the lung cells from injury.
The team used intravenous and inhalation for delivery of the protein therapy and saw it noticeably reduced symptoms of acute lung injury and chronic emphysema compared to control animals. Consistent doses of the protein improved lung structure in the animals with chronic lung injury. Moreover, the researchers found considerable reduction in edema, hypoxemia and inflammatory markers.
"We need to do further testing, but so far this therapy appears safe," Ma added. "The human body already makes small amounts of MG53 in blood circulation, so there is no concern for allergic response. Additionally, we treated rodent models with a dose 10 times higher than the effective dose with no adverse effects."
The American Lung Association states that approximately 36 million Americans with chronic lung disease can benefit from a therapy that targets cell repair.
"If treatment with rhMG53 works in humans, the implications for patient care could be quite significant," Ma concluded. "It could prevent and repair heart and lung cell damage. It could be used prior to surgeries to prevent damage and promote healing. It could be used in an emergency department, by paramedics or on the battlefield to treat traumatic injuries. We are hopeful as we now work to begin our clinical trials."
The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
